The Journal Times from Racine, Wisconsin • 29

o) 0) Opinion 30 vbcc-s 40 THE JOURNAL TIMES SECTION SUNDAY, JULY 27, 1997 Biz Bits BY IAJHA OttJM the in i-. jJJ JL I i i Th WatlntM Canttr mthc ncwSC Johnum Wax C'ontmcRiu Markets head-quiirtm, 8310 Kxh St. in Mount I1cu.sunt, feature work-out equipment uml un nursing staff. At a Glanco Tout brm pin cottt pf tmployM hv mo man doubts) wx 1983 and itiK rising Thai IncrMM occurrtd dprt wkj-spread efforts to control rising health care coats through benefit plan redesign, Increasing employee payments and deductibles and prudent purchase of services. The leading causes of death In the United States heart disease, cancer, stroke, accidents and lung disease can, In part, be related to negative lifestyles.

Those diseases carry a $250 billion health bill. Experts contend the only long-term solution to managing health care costs Is to keep people out of the health care system and keep them healthy. Information from the WefrwM Council JIM SLOSIAREK Journal Timet It's not just a fad; it's paying off for employers and employees BY LAURA SUMNER COON Business Editor said. "Financial planning has been an emerging area, where employers will offer things to assist workers with money management and investment, she said. "It's no secret financial issues cause people a lot of "Think about it.

The first thing they get out of high school is a job and a checkbook, and they manage their own finances for the very first time, she said. "Most of us are totally unprepared to do that. Work and family issues also are emerging wellness areas. "It is not surprising that demographics show the workforce is getting more women. And usually like it or not Well-being and employees.

These days the two concepts are not casually thrown together simply to heat up some warm, fuzzy feelings between workers and their employers. Wellness in the workplace continues to be a dollars-and-cents issue, says Deborah Seyter, Racine resident and executive director of the Wellness Council in Milwaukee. Ip fact, health promotion at work has evolved in cutting-edge companies to mean more than offering periodic smoking cessation and stress management classes. They've gone beyond the symptoms to the causes, like financial distress and other family matters, she said. Back in the mid-'80s when "wellness was a new term, catapulting health costs drove employers to do anything renegotiate benefits, switch health insurance they still are the primary caretakers.

The employers who are progressive and want to get the most of their workforce providers to lower the ever-increasing premiums they were paying. "They finally got to health promotion and prevention," Seyler said. "More progressive employers were way ahead of the pack and recognized the importance of these WHENirtfgflf In an era when "managed care" has become an easily recognized corporate term, companies have Deen more conscientious about health promotion In the workplace. The seventh annual worksite wellness conference, sponsored by the Wellness Council, will feature speaker Larry S. Chapman, co-founder and chairman of Summex an integrated health management strategies company in Indianapolis.

He is the author of a dozen books about health cost management and workplace health promotion. A half-dozen other experts will speak at the day-long conference Oct. 22 at the Clarion Hotel Conference Center in Milwaukee. Registration is $85 for council members and $135 for nonmembers. The deadline for registration is Oct.

10. For more information, call 291-9355. years." But in the last two years, Kranz moved to a new location and there was too much to do getting settled, the program got lost, Radcliff said. Now, the group has refocused its efforts on wellness. Radcliff, who is a customer service representative, has assembled a five-person team to rekindle the wellness issue there The Kranz group is skewed to the physical fitness aspect of well-being for the time, she said.

"It's a state of mind," Radcliff said. "It's important to me because when people feel good, they just emit a certain type of aura." Health leads to a different work atmosphere. Well-being is contagious, she said. Eder Industries, a division of Versa Technologies Gateway Technical College; Racine Unified School District and S.C. Johnson Wax are among the Wellness Council's members.

Two Racinians sit on the board of directors Delaine Moe, student assistancewellness coordinator for the Racine Unified School District, and James M. Nord, human performance manager at S.C. Johnson Son Inc. The board is trying to determine how to be a statewide organization. It is the only Wellness Council in the state affiliated with the Wellness Councils of America, Seyler said.

In the meantime, the council continues to tackle issues that face employers, such as promoting health within managed care systems. "This is not a passing fad," Seyler said. will have to deal with it," Seyler said. Aging parent issues are also reflective of the workforce today. "A wellness program is a benefit," she said.

"It needs to be planned and implemented by employees. If it is going to be successful, it must meet the needs and interests of the workforce." The drawback is the time and effort it takes an employer to "The most valuable resources we have are our employees, so wellness has to be an Issue. Employers are concerned with their productivity, and what has Impact on that Is their health and things and the benefit to help recruit and retain employees." Out of that interest came the Wellness Council, created in 1985, which assists employers in developing employee wellness programs and acts as the conduit through which its 130 member companies can inn1 Dial offer a good, comprehen sive wellness program. It also Ford man marks 40th anniversary Herb Ilytlrkk has bwn a Ford man for 40 years. In his younftnr days he moved around, building his carwr and knowkxfoe of Ford Motor until 1972, when he eyed a Ford dealership smack in the middle of Racine County in Union Grove as place to settle.

Ilydrkk stqiped up from his position as general manager for Southgute Ford in Milwaukee to open Ilydrkk Ford Sales 19215 Spring St. This week Ford honored him for 25 years as a Ford dealer. It was really Mrs. ilydrkk who urged the move to Union Grove A native of Janesvllle, she wanted to return and stay sornewhnre in Wisconsin. Twins also had something to do with it.

"When we came out here we wanted a smaller place for our twins to grow up in," Herb Ilydrkk said. The decision wasn't half bad, he mused, adding that his son graduated from Harvard Law School and is a Milwaukee attorney, and his daughter received a master's degree from Drake University and is a successful insurance professional. Dad didn't do badly, either. The dealership continues to thrive in Racine County's heartland. Some things have changed in 25 years, he said.

Vehicles are made so much better, and there are so many more of them which brought other dealers to compete with, too, he said. Racine companies in QVC spotlight As the home shopping's QVC network searched for innovative items to feature in the "Best of 50 in 50" tour of the states, two Racine companies have captured a berth during the Wisconsin stop Aug. 3. Twenty Wisconsin companies and their products will get the spotlight during a live three-hour broadcast from the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts in Milwaukee. Among them will be Speedtech International 1405 16th which will feature a set of 36 Speed Wraps Cord Organizers.

Racine Danish Kringle, 2529 Golf Ave, will hawk its apple and pecan kringles. When the tour is over, QVC will have marketed 1,000 businesses from around the country. The Wisconsin segment will air between 3 and 6 p.m. on Channel 29B on TCI of Racine. Opthalmologist's clinic moves Allen Eye Care Associates, owned by opthalmolo-gist Dr.

Ronald Allen, will be moving Aug. 11 to a new location at 2722 Old Mill Road. The clinic, now on Walton Avenue on Racine's north side, employs 20. Sears creates new tire store Next week the Tire America store on the north end of the Regency Mall property will have a different look. The owner, Sears, Roebuck and will be opening a National Tire and Battery store there with a more modern, open layout.

NTB stores are a division of the Sears Automotive Group, the No. 1 retailer of tires and batteries. All stores, says Sears, will carry 3,000 national brand name and private label tires and will sell batteries and related starting and charging accessories. UW-Parkside touts community partnership The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is making an issue of its partnership with the community. The school has invited human resource directors from various companies to a breakfast meeting from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

Wednesday with interim Chancellor Gordon Lamb to discuss how the school can help provide an educated workforce in the region. Richard Stolz, new dean of the School of Business and Technology, and other speakers will be available to talk about how working students and businesses can use Parkside's programs. To RSVP for the meeting in Room 104 of the Student Union, call Cynthia Jensen at 595-2300. Are you venturesome? This fair's for you Applications are being accepted for the 1997 Wisconsin Venture Fair, an opportunity for selected entrepreneurs to meet potential investors during the event Nov. 4 at the Madison Concourse Hotel Governors Club in Madison.

The fair offers companies three opportunities to meet investors a 15-minute presentation, a small display and reception area and a conference book with an executive summary of each company. Deadline for applications is Sept. 15. Companies are selected on their potential for sustained business growth and potential investor interest. Tb apply, call the WIN Foundation, sponsors of the event, at "i6fl6)25648.

Biz Bits is a roundup of business happenings. If you have something to shore, call Business Editor Laura Sumner Coon at 634-3322. extension 303. You may also fax her a suggestion at $34-9194, e-mail it to: birnewsSracinecounty.com or mail it to: Bix Bits, 212 Fourth Racine, Wisconsin 53403. DEBORAH SEYLER Executive director, Wellness Council "We don't come in and implement a program," said Seyler, who has headed the nonprofit organization since its inception.

"We help employers identify community resources that could help them and give them opportunities to network with other employers." The council has a library and wealth of resources to help members enhance their skills, she said. It also sponsors programs with wellness experts for council members. And though the organization has been around more than a decade, the attention to health care prevention has not waned. "It is no less expensive to be sick," she said. "The focus is here to stay." To start, the council suggests employers determine what their employees might need.

That comes both through personal surveys and from studying the demographics of the workforce gender, age, family life. But wellness has gone beyond the standard blood pressure and cholesterol checks, Seyler takes time and effort to track just what good a wellness program does to the bottom line, the hook for most employers. "A lot do it on faith," she said of employers. "These programs, studies show, make sense and are less costly than treatment. "The most valuable resources we have are employees, so wellness has to be an issue," Seyler said, "Employers are concerned with their productivity, and what has impact on that is their health and well-being." But not every member employer devotes staff to create and carry out a program.

Many turn to committees to offer a health and prevention program. At Kranz Cindy Lou Radcliff heads a reorganized wellness committee. "We're getting one going," she said. "We've been a member of the council for four or five PEOPLE IN BIZ VI FH rH i iJ I if i lW.0 lELz Li! Lk Appointments and promotions: Patricia Duetsch has been appointed assistant vice presidentbranch managerbusiness development Heritage Bank-Mount Pleasant office, 5901 Durand Ave. Duetsch had been the director of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside's Small Business Development Center since 1989.

She has earned a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's degree in business Gurnee, 111. He has earned a master's degree in sports marketing and management from Western Illinois University, Macomb, 111. Rainfair 3600 S. Memorial Drive announces two staff changes. James Ratajczek is the new director, sales and marketing Coleman for the consumer division.

Pete Fiorini has assumed the position of vice president of sales, overseeing field sales and footwear market Bradshaw Skantz Duetsch Easley Wardrlp aclministration from UW- and a master's of science degree in urban "affairs from UW-Milwaukee. Modine Manufacturing 1500 DeKoven Ave, has added Ian McKay to its application engineering support staff. He will be involved in the company's full line of gas, steamhot water, oil and electric unit heaters. McKay is a mechanical engineering graduate from Michigan Technological University, Houghton. Dr.

John M. Skanti has joined All Saints Medical Group, 3801 Spring Skantz is a gradu Up from the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He completed his residency in neurology and fellowship in neurophysiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin and is board certified in neurology. His office is located at 2405 Northwestern Ave Tharaldson Enterprises Inc. of Fargo, N.D., announces the addition of Tim BUf sing of Sturtevant as general manager of the Fairfield Inn, 6421 Washington Ave Blaesing has been in the hospitality field for four years.

Prior to joining Tharaldsons, he was the owner of Royalty Cleaning Service John Bradshaw has been promoted to vice president of finance and CFO at Danfoss Fluid Power, 8635 Washington Ave Bradshaw has earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Lor as College Dubuque, Iowa, and a certified public accountant certification from the state of Illinois. Katrin Jsehaert of Waterford has been named asso- ing for the newly created LaCrosseRainfair Safety Products Division. Fiorini and Ratajczek were most recently, with La Crosse Footwear. Honors and awards: Gordon Bittner, Realtor with Pignotti Real Estate, 6601 Washington Ave, has been awarded the Accredited Buyer Representation designation by the Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council of the National Association of Realtors. Requirements for the designation include a course in buyer representation, written examination and practical experience in buyer representation.

Reliv International awarded Jan and Al Hagopian a promotional double bonus at the company's annual international convention July 17-19 for finishing second in June among the company's 50,000 distributors. Also recognized during the convention for reaching advanced levels of business were Cindy and Steve Joost, Racine, Mary Ann Skold, Franksvilk: and Audrey Bernstein. Burlington. Compiled by Pat Henningfeld The Journal Times welcomes news about promotions, appointments, professional organization elections, certifications and professional honors. Because of space constraint, we reserve the right to edit for length or clarity.

Black and white photos may accompany notices. Our address People in Business, the Journal Times, 212 Fourth St, Racine, Wis. 5303. ciate business development consultant at Runzheimer International, Rochester. Jaehnert previously was a customer support specialist for the company.

She will be responsible for assisting Runzheimer's consultants nationwide on proposals and projects as well as developing new client relationships. Jaehnert has earned a bachelor's degree in business and psychology from Indiana University. John Easley has joined The Precise 3715 Blue River Ave, as an application engineer. In his new position he will be responsible for providing technical application assistance and training to the company's sales staff, distributors and customers. Prior to joining Precise, Easley was a product design engineer at Cessna Aircraft, Wichita, Kan.

He has earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University, Evanston, and a master's degree in business administration from Wichita State University, Wichita, Kan. James Hard rip has been named general manager for TCI Media Serv ices. 5707 Byrd Ave Wardrip oversees the advertising for 14 cable network channels, plus the local programming on Channel 14B and TV production. Prior to his new position, Wardrip had been the marketing manager at the Journal Times. Mike Corriveas has joined the staff at the YMCA, 725 Lake Ave.

after three years as national account executive for CVTC, a direct marketing services provider in.